The sell-off has finally stopped. Harvard Management Company chose to hold onto 3,044,612 shares of IBIT (BlackRock Bitcoin ETF) as of June 30, 2026, breaking a selling streak that had lasted for two consecutive quarters.
The value of the institution’s Bitcoin ETF portfolio dropped by $15.6 million from the first quarter, which had reached $116.97 million. However, this shrinkage to $101.36 million was purely the result of IBIT share price corrections in the market, rather than further asset sales.
End of the 55% Sell-Off Streak
This inactive stance contrasts sharply with their aggressiveness over the past few months. Harvard had been actively cutting its crypto exposure since last year. Starting from a holding of 6.81 million shares in September 2025, this figure was trimmed to 5.35 million shares in December. The selling continued, shrinking to 3.04 million shares in March 2026. The total portion of IBIT they sold exceeded 55% in just a six-month period.
For Ethereum ETFs, their treatment was far more absolute. Harvard completely liquidated its position in the first quarter of 2026, and the latest data confirms they have no interest in re-entering the Ethereum market. A different approach was taken by another Ivy League institution, Dartmouth University, which kept its investment composition intact. Dartmouth held 201,531 shares of IBIT alongside its Ethereum and Solana ETF holdings.
Two Camps at the Peak of Wall Street
The decision to do nothing also spread abroad. Two fund managers from Abu Dhabi mirrored this stance. Mubadala maintained its holding of 14.72 million shares of IBIT worth $490.1 million, while the Abu Dhabi Investment Council locked in its position at 8.22 million shares valued at $273.6 million. Both recorded zero transactions since the first quarter.
A stark contrast emerged on Wall Street as major banks moved in opposite directions. JPMorgan increased its exposure through new IBIT purchases, raising its holding from 8.3 million shares to approximately 10.4 million shares in the second quarter. Tudor Investment Corporation also piled on, acquiring an additional 109,446 shares of IBIT, bringing its assets to 688,529 shares valued at $22.9 million.
However, that buying activity was ignored by Morgan Stanley. The top-tier player chose the opposite path by shedding about 4.5% of its IBIT holdings. This retreat trimmed their holdings to approximately 16.5 million shares worth $548.6 million.
The Art of Doing Nothing
The prolonged pause by an institution of Harvard’s caliber proves that a holding strategy has its own place in the crypto market. The decision to let $101 million in assets float, without intervention even as the value declines, highlights the mindset of institutional money. For them, exercising restraint amid high volatility is an active decision just as important as buying or selling.
Reported by crypto.news.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only, not financial advice. Cryptocurrency assets are highly volatile and carry significant risk. Always do your own research (DYOR) and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
